13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:13-14 KJV
Today, I want to look at two verses in Ephesians that tell us what happens after we are “born again”. When we trust in the “Word of Truth” (aka Jesus), we are born again and the Holy Spirit comes to enter into our lives. When this happens, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit as an earnest of our inheritance.
But what does that really mean?
Today I want to look at the Holy Spirit as the earnest of our inheritance.
The Holy Spirit is the “Earnest” of our Inheritance
I just recently purchased a house and one of the things that you do when in the buying process is put down “earnest money”.
Earnest Money – money to show you have sincere conviction about the purchase of something.
Before being made new by the blood of Jesus we were slaves to unrighteousness.
In the early days of the United States history – and still in many parts of the world today – slavery was used as a way to pay off debts.
The original purpose of slavery was to work off a financial debt that you couldn’t repay any other way.
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
John 8:34 KJV
Before being born again we were slaves to sin and unrighteousness. We had a debt that we couldn’t pay off and the only thing we could do was serve our master – the devil.
We’ve been “redeemed”
This word “redemption” in the Greek means “a release effected by payment of ransom” (see https://biblehub.com/greek/629.htm ).
We were purchased back from slavery to sin, and the Holy Spirit is the earnest money inside of us showing us that God is serious about our redemption.
Slavery to sin held us in chains but God’s righteousness came in with the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus was the payment for the debt to sin that we couldn’t pay.
We are God’s “purchased possession”
I heard the Bible talk about being a “slave to righteousness” and thought I don’t want to be a slave! I thought Jesus makes people free.
But remember, Outside of Hollywood’s dramatization and man’s sinful nature, being a slave really just means we are to work off a debt we cannot repay on our own.
God purchased us through the blood of Jesus. We are to be workers unto Him created for good works.
God’s Serious About You (and Me)
The seal of the Holy Spirit on our hearts is an amazing sign that God is serious about us. We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus. The life we now live in the flesh we live for the glory of God.
Just like earnest money is just the first amount of money for the house so too is the measure of the Holy Spirit just the beginning of the inheritance awaiting us in heaven for those who follow the will of God.
If you enjoyed this devo you can check out more like it, including our last post here.
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